Page:PassionDeathOfJesusChristV5.djvu/26



The lover  of  souls,  our  most  loving  Redeemer,  declared that he  had  no  other  motive  in  coming  down  upon  earth to become  man  than  to  enkindle  in  the  hearts  of  men the fire  of  his  holy  love:  I am  come  to  cast  fire  on  earth; and what  will  I but  that  it  be  kindled? And, oh,  what beautiful flames  of  love  has  he  not  enkindled  in  so  many souls, especially  by  the  pains  that  he  chose  to  suffer  in his  death,  in  order  to  prove  to  us  the  immeasurable  love which he  still  bears  to  us!

Oh, how  many  souls,  happy  in  the  wounds  of  Jesus,  as in  burning  furnaces  of  love,  have  been  so  inflamed  with his love  that  they  have  not  refused  to  consecrate  to  him their goods,  their  lives,  and  their  whole  selves,  surmounting with  great  courage  all  the  difficulties  which  they  had to encounter  in  the  observance  of  the  divine  law,  for  the love of  that  Lord  who,  being  God,  chose  to  suffer  so much  for  the  love  of  them! This was  just  the  counsel that the  Apostle  gave  us,  in  order  that  we  might  not  fail, but make  great  advances  in  the  way  of  salvation : Think diligently upon  Him  who  endureth  such  opposition  from  sinners against  Himself, that  you  be  not  wearied, fainting  in  your minds.

Wherefore St.  Augustine,  all  inflamed  with  love  at  the sight of  Jesus  nailed  on  the  cross,  prayed  thus  sweetly: